laird



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen '1.

R. H. LAIRD. WATER HEATER.

No. 539,918. Patented May 28, 1895.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- R. H. LAIRD.

WATER EEATEE. No. 539,918. Patented May 28, 189.5.

y Ll/vd MW UNITED STATES PATENT EEIOE.

ROBERT H. LAIRD, OE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR To WILLIAM HENRY LAIRD, OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATER-H EATER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters PatentNo. 539,918, dated May 28, 1895. Application lecl August 27, 1894.V Serial No. 521,379. model.)

.T a/ZZ whom it 'may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT H.' LAIRD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in` Water-Heaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the -accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, whereinro Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View and plan view on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. l. Y

This invention relates to a newV and useful improvement in water-heaters, and consists, generally stated, first, in combiningr with an up-draft grate, a feed-magazine which is surrounded by air-fines discharging air at the sides and above the grate-bars, whereby com-` plete combustion of the `fuel takes place; second, in arranging vertically-disposed watersections around the grate, which form a surrounding bridge-wall and an 11p-draft ilue therebetween and the fuel magazine, said z5 water sections being formed at their lower inner` edges with airiiues which conduct oxygen from below the grate-bars to a point above the fire to assist in supporting combustion; third, in forming the heat-conducting pins which project inwardly, and which pins are preferably staggered; fourth, in the peculiar arrangement and operation of a trap-door located in the .fuel-magazine, which trap-door, also, acts in the capacity of a damper in cer- 3 5 tain operations of the heater; fifth, in the general arrangement of the llues'and the mannerV of introducing oxygen to supportcombustion on the grate-bars, and, finally, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts comprising my improved water-heater and its location relative to the boiler proper, which will now be fully described and afterward pointed out in theV claims. l D

In the drawings, A indicates an ordinary tubular boiler; A', its main draft-due; A, its breaching, terminating in a suitable stack, and A", its return draft-fines. The boiler and its associate parts are supported by suitable masonry, which, preferably, extends up square.

in fronttthereof'to form a down draft-flue from the spaces around the water-head to the `main draft-tlueA.

B indicates asuitable base for the waterheater, which forms an ash-pitlfor the gratebars C, located thereabove, said grate-bars being of any approved or desired type and mounted in the plate D, which plate generally supports the casing and-water-sections.

E indicates the casing or shell which in- 6o closes the heater.

Mounted on the plate D, are water-sections F,which, in the drawings, are fourin number and arranged so as tov form substantially a.

These water-sections, however, as well as the other parts constituting my improved heater, can be so shaped as' to make the heater circular in cross-section, in which instance each water-section would be in lthe form of a quarter of a circle. Again, as many 7c water-sections as may be desired may be used and connected together in any suitable manner,soas to preserve the continuity of ythe high bridge-wall surrou nding the entire gratebars. As the water-sections are now made, Save for the front one, but one pattern is necessary, which duplication saves considerable in the cost of production of the heater. Tho ends of the sections are, preferably, mtered, so that they will expand and contract equally 8o under the existing arrangement of draft-dues, the inner face being of less area, being subjected to the greater amount of heat, will expand to agreater extent, proportionately, than the outer face, which, although ofgreaterarea, 8 5 is subjected to a less degree of heat; therefore, its expansion is less. By mitering thecorners, the expansion of the inner and outer faces is equalized, and in order to preserve their relation, I preferably arrange at the 9c corners angle-stirrups which hold the sections together. Projecting inwardlyfromthe'faces of the sections, are heat-conducting pins F, which are, preferably, staggered relative to. each other, and whose function is, to absorb V- and transmit heat to the water in' the sections, atI the same time diffusing the heat throughout the entire surface. At the lower inner edges of the water-sections, are air-conducting ports F", which open into the ash-pit Ioo rand terminate in the combustion chamber above the grate-bars, at a point preferably about the lower end of the fuel magazine.

`Gr indicates a belt feed-pipe, which is supplied with water to be heated, from some suitable source of supply, said belt leading into the bottoms of all of the water-'sections F.

Leading from the tops of the water-sections F, are pipes H, which discharge into a continuous water-head I, located at the upper,v

portion of the heater, said water-head being connected by a pipeJ to the boilerAor other receptacle for the heated water.

K indicates a cap or cover for the heater, i

which is preferably formed 'with openings over the water-head,said openings being closed by doors L, which give access to the interior for the purpose of cleaning the flues, the dirt in the fines between the shell E and the watersection F being disposed of through doors D', in the plate D,and the ldirt on the inner faces of the water-sections and on the heat-conducting pins falling through the grate-bars into the ash-pit. Cap or cover K is, also, formed with a central opening, giving access to the fuel magazine from the top, which opening is closed by a door M. Draft openings are, also, located, in the cover K, around the fuel magazine, they 'bein-g regulated by draft-plates N.

The fuel-magazine is Vcomposed `of double walls O and P, the former, being the outer, having mounted thereon feet O', which eX- tendlaterally and rest upon the water-sections F to support the magazine and add rigidity by preventing lateral movement. otherwise secured to the wall O, is an eXtension O, which is perforated or formed with openings 0 in its sides, and whose lower eX- tremity is formed with inwardly 4projecting anges upon which is supported the inner wall P of the magazine. Arranged between the walls O and P, and extending the entire length thereof, are partitionsQ, preferably in the form of Z-shaped braces, which are located in the four corners, 'dividing the space between the walls into four flues, at the same time maintaining parity between the walls.

R indicates a downwardly-swinging trapdoor, located at the fuel-magazine, whose function is, to close the same to prevent the escape of the gases of combustion when green fuel is introduced at the top of the magazine, and,also, to regulate an up-draft through the magazine in starting the fire, as will hereinafter be described. Connected to this trapdoor, preferably on its under side, is a link R', to the other end of which linkis connected the inner end of an operating rod R, extending through a wayin the front Water-section F and shell E. On the'under side of this rod R, Vis a lug or projection r, which rests on the inner side of .the shell E when ythe trap-door is closed, to Vhold the saine in an elevated position. To cause the trap-door to drop and discharge its supported fuel ony to the fire on the grate-bars, it is only necessary to raise the rod R, which releases the lug r from the shell E, and allows the rod R to move out wardly, which is necessary in this operation of the trap-door. To elevate the trap-door, rod R is forced inwardly until its lug?` passes shell E and drops behind the same, which will set the trap-door.

Leading from the interior of the maga-zine to the space above the water-head, is a flue S, which is preferably closed by a suitable damper S', through which the products of combustion pass on first starting a re. A pipe T also vconnects the space from above the water-head to the stack. U is a damper in pipe T.

The opera-tion of the heater is as follows: Assuming that the fuel is laid and ready for ignition, trap-door R is dropped, opening a through-draft'through the fuel-magazine, iiue S,|and pipe T,fd`ampers S andU being opened. In this operation, oxygen is supplied to the tire from the ash-pit, and the draft is entirely' upward. After the fire has become sufficiently started, dampers S and U are closed, and the trap-door R is elevated Green-fuel is now placed in the magazine on trap-door R, and, when the magazine is full, door M is `placed in position. Draft-plates N are now arranged to open the down-draft through walls O and P. Trap-door R is tripped, precipitating the green fuelon the fire, and,if desired, and fuel in the magazinepermitting, the trapdoor can be again elevated. The course now assumed by rthe products of combustion, the fire being principally fed by oxygen ,from the ash-pit, is to pass on the sides of the magazine, and in'termingling with the oxygen from ports F and opening o, complete combustion will take place. It will be noted that the products of combustion are compelled to pass between two oppositely-inflowing streams of oxygen, so that complete intermixture is the result, followed by a thorough combustion. The gases then arise around the fuel magazine, and on vthe inner faces of the water-sections, distributing their heat over said watersections (considerable number of heat units being absorbed by the heat-conducting pin),V

ICO

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that a maximum number of heat units are g absorbed by the water-sections and waterhead, and that a complete combustion of the fuel is accomplished, givinga maximum heat from a given quantity of fuel.

lThe circulation of the water is as follows: Being admitted at the lower ends of the sections, the heat will naturally cause it to rise and induce a circulation upward through the pipes H into the water-head I, and, by pipe .Liuto the boilerA,whichit feeds with waterat a very high temperature-thus causing the efficiency of the boiler to be'constant, which would not be the result if cold water were introduced at various times in feeding the boiler, which would chill the same and cause an irregular pressure. It will, also, be noted that theimproved water-heater as herein shown and described forms substantially a part of the boiler, covering the entire front thereof, and that the heat generated for the heater isutilized for the boiler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a water-heater, the combination with the water-sections, of a fuel-magazine consisting of two walls, brace-bars extending the length of said walls and dividing the space therebetween into flues, draft-plates for regulating the inflowing air at the top of the flues, and perforations formed inv the outer wall near its lower edge, substantially as described.

2. In a water heater, the combination with a suitable shell or casing, of watersections arranged therein, grate bars, and a fuel-magazine located above the grate-bars, said fuelmagazine consisting of an outer and an inner wall, said outer Wall having an inwardly projecting ange at its lower edge upon which the inner Vwall is supported, substantially as described.

3. In a Water heater, the combination with a suitable shell or casing, of grate bars, watersections arranged around said grate bars, a fuel-magazine arranged above the grate and between the water-sections, said fuel magazine being formed of two walls, between which an air flue is formed, which discharges above the grate-bars, pipes which lead to all of said water-sections, a water-head arranged above the sections, and a connection between the water-head and each of said sections, sub-v -a suitable shell, of grate-bars, water-sections arranged around said grate, a fuel-magazine located above the grate, and forming an updraft flue in connection with. the water-sections, said fuel-magazine being composed ot' two walls, between which is formed a downdraft ue opening into the up-draft tine near the bottom of the magazine, and ports F which open into the ash-pit and discharge into the Lip-draft flue, substantially as described.

6. In a water-heater, the combination with the grate bars, of Water sections arranged around said gratebars, a fuel magazine formed with flues inducing oxygen to support combustion above the grate-bars, said watersections containing air-ducts and ports therein, said portsopening into the combustionchamber opposite the point of discharge of the magazine liues, substantially as described.

7. In a water-heater, the combination with a suitable shell or casing and grate-bars, of

water-sections arranged around said gratebars and forming a combustion chamber thereabove, a fuel-magazine which is located in the combustion chamber, 4said magazine being formed with air lines leading from the eXterior, which discharge into the combustion chamber, and ues which open into the ashpit and discharge into the combustion chamber substantially in an opposite direction from the discharge of the air from the magazineflues, substantially as described.

8. In a water-heater, the combination with a suitable/shell or casing, of grate-bars, watersections arranged above the grate-bars, a fuelmagazinelocated above thegrate-bars,adownwardly swinging door located in said fuel-magazine, a link attached to the under side of said trap-doer, an operating handle which is connected to said link, and which extends out through the shell, and means on said handle for retaining the door in an elevated position, substantially as described.

9. In a water-heater, the combination with an inclosing shell or casing, ot` grate-bars and Water-sections located therein, a fuel-magazine located above the grate-bars, between draft flue, and between the Water-sections and IOC shell is formed a down-draft iiue, a trap-door damper located in the fuel-magazine, a flue S which leads from the top of the magazine, and a pipe T which leads from the top of the casing or shell to a stack, substantially as described.

10. In a water-heater, the combination with an inclosing shell, of grate-bars, water-sections arrangedV above the grate bars, pipes leading to the several sections, a water-head which is connected to the several sections by pipes, anda tubular boiler to which the water,- head is connected, beneath which tubular boiler the products of combustion pass from the grate-bars, substantially as described.

11. In a water-heater, the combination with an inclosin g shell, of grate-bars located there- IIO in, Water-sections located above the gratebars, between which sections and the shell is formed a down-draft flue which opens into a flue beneath a tubular boiler, a fuel-magazine which is located above the grate-bars, between which magazine and the inner Walls of the Water sections, is formed an 11p-draft flue which connects with the down-draft liue above the water sections, and a tubular boiler, through which the products` of combustion pass, substantially as described.

12. In a water-heater, the combination with an inclosing shell, of grate-bars, Water-sections located above said grate bars, between which and the shell is formed a down-draft fine, which opens into a draft iiue beneath a tubular boiler, a fuel-magazine located above the grate-bars, between which and the Water-sec- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my tions is formed an 11p-draft Hue, which oonsignature, in presence of two witnesses, this Io neots With the down-draft flue at the top of 22d day of August, 1894i. the Water-sections, a tubular boiler, a, stack 5 for said boiler, and a pipe T provided with a ROBERT H. LAIRD.

a damper, which leads into said steek from Witnesses: above the Water-sections, substantially as de- F. R. C'ORNWALL, scribed. HUGH K. WAGNERi 

